The Appalachian State University Collaborative Biodiesel Project

1
The Appalachian State University Collaborative
Biodiesel Project

• Case Study of a Grant-Funded University Level
  Biodiesel Research and Education Project

2
History

• Chris Jude started the Boone Sustainable
  Transportation Club in 2003
• Small, student funded appleseed processor at ASU
  farm. No running water, small unheated space,
  far from town.
• Chris and Paul wrote grant proposal to the EPA in
  January, 2005.

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The Collaborative Biodiesel Project

• Student founded and managed
• Originally funded by 10,000 EPA P3 grant
• Further fundraising, donations, and grant writing
  raised an additional 25,900 from university,
  student organizations, and other sources
• Closed-loop design intended to provide energy
  needs for the system, and recycle wastes
• Won the EPA P3 design competition, and received
  75,000 funding for next year.

4
Funding Sources (Good places to start looking for
grants)

• Primary funding sources are EPA Emissions
  Reduction related, USDA renewable energy/value
  added as well as some State Funded Air Quality
  Grants
• EPA awards grants by region, try www.grants.gov
• Read the RFP carefully, contact your friendly EPA
  agent.

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The Gilded Palace
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Starting from Scratch

• Our team of student volunteers built the entire
  ASU facility from scratch, starting with the
  foundation for our building.
• The photograph on the previous slide depicts our
  (nearly) finished processor

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Starting from Scratch
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Hybrid Heating System
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Hybrid heating system

• Our solar thermal system provides all necessary
  heat for the biodiesel reaction in sunny weather.
• During cold or cloudy weather, we burn biodiesel
  or waste oil in our salvaged bioler.

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Data and Automation

• Computer controlled hydronic heat distribution
  system
• Data logging for research
• Gas Chromatography testing through co-operation
  with ASU Chemistry Dept.

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Greenhouse and Living Machine
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Greenhouse and living machine

• Our passive solar greenhouse is designed to
  maintain temperatures favorable for plant growth
  through Boone, NC winters, with no fossil fuel
  input.
• The greenhouse will house our biologicaly-based
  wastewater treatment system to handle wash water.
• The greenhouse also provides warm storage for oil.

13
Education

• Over 70 ASU students were involved in the project
• Seven university courses utilized the facility
• Two hands-on workshops
• Several tours

14
EPA P3 Design Expo, Washington, DC
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Phase II(What to do with 75 grand)

• Feedstock research
• Cooperation with local farmers to grow rapeseed
• Experiment with algae growth using compost
  exhaust
• Off-grid solar-diesel hybrid electric system
• Improved instrumentation
• Expanded educational programs
• Biofuels course at ASU
• More community workshops

16
High Country Biofuels

• In a seperate project, there is a Co-op forming
  in Boone
• Just received a 20,000 grant from the North
  Carolina Department of Air Quality.
• Will fund a commercial pump in Boone

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Designs, etc

• Open source schematics, data, and code available
  at www.biodiesel.appstate.edu
• If youre interested in working on this project,
  check out the appropriate technology program at
  ASU http//www.tec.appstate.edu/at/app_tech.html
  
• Contacts appstatebiofuels_at_gmail.com
• Paul Feather pifeather_at_gmail.com
• Chris Jude vegbenz300_at_gmail.com